Trike-A-Thon tradition continues

Tuesday

Apr 30, 2013 at 12:00 PM

When Rosalind Price, the MCIO Head Start Transportation Manager, took on the responsibility as coordinator for the facility's annual St. Jude Trike-A-Thon, she took the task very serious for a couple reasons. One, it was an important fund raiser that depended on the generosity of others in order to function and two, six of her father's siblings, as well as himself, had perished from cancer.The Trike-A-Thon has been a tradition at daycare centers and pre-schools for more than 25 years. It is held had Head Start consist of a week of exercises that teach young ones about toy safety skills, while they attend their regular days at the early learning center. Children learn to ride their toys safely through a series of interactive stories from special characters, such as Bikewell Bear and pedals the Bunny. At the end of the week, the children can bring their trikes or riding toys to the Head Start gym and practice the safety lessons they've learned, while eating refreshments and listening to speakers. The purpose for all of this is to raise funds for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, one of the world's premier centers for the research and treatment of pediatric cancer and other catastrophic childhood diseases.

By Vicki Adamsvadams@bastropenterprise.com

"St. Jude is the leader on the fight against catastrophic childhood diseases such as leukemia, brain tumors and sickle cell disease," Price said. "Through events like Trike-A-Thon, Bastrop supports the St. Jude mission of finding cures and saving children across the country and around the world."

Price said these fighting these diseases doesn't come cheap though.

"The daily operating cost for St. Jude is $1.5 million, which is primarily covered by public contributions," Price stated in a press release she sent out earlier this month. "St. Jude depends on community-based fundraising programs like Trike-A-Thon to continue the hospital's groundbreaking research and lifesaving care."

The Bastrop community can sponsor children in the Trike-A-Thon by pledging a donation in one or more of their names. MCIO Head Start has had two children to benefit from St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital. Donations can be in the form of checks made payable to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.